*Warning - spoilers for episode one of Deadline below*
Deadline kicked off on Channel 5 this week, with viewers tuning in to the new thriller about a woman accused of murdering her husband, but so far people aren't entirely convinced by the pacing.
The thriller tells the story of Natalie Varga (played by Peaky Blinders star Charlie Murphy), but as the story unfolds it seems the public has already turned on the character and Deadline fans are determined to get to the truth about what really happened to Natalie's husband.
In the first episode, she meets investigative journalist James Aiden (James D'Arcy), who has got a few scandals of his own and he's hoping that delving into Natalie's case can help his career. At first, he thinks she's guilty too but eventually becomes more interested in her story.
James was stuck making trashy documentaries, and considered Natalie's case to be 'the opportunity of a lifetime' and something that could make or break his career, but is he in way over his head?
But despite the intriguing premise, viewers have found themselves frustrated by how slow the drama is, with some struggling to get hooked on the latest Channel 5 offering due to its unengaging pace.
Others are more forgiving and have decided they'll 'stick with it'. Taking to Twitter, fans have shared their initial thoughts on the first episode, and it's mixed so far...
Bit slow but gonna stick with it #DeadlineApril 5, 2022
I stuck Deadline for 20 minutes but gave up. Hadn't got a clue what was going on, it was slow and they constanly mumbled ! #DeadlineApril 5, 2022
#Deadline #Channel5 was like being in a traffic-jam of slow moving traffic for an hour and hoping for things to speed up.......April 6, 2022
Watched about 20 minutes of #Deadline on Channel 5. So slow couldn't take any more.April 5, 2022
#Deadline I find this quite intriguing even though it's fairly slowApril 5, 2022
Despite complaints, the first episode ended with a massive twist and definitely something that TV fans weren't expecting. Usually, in these dramas, the killer isn't revealed until the very end, but Deadline has chosen to end its first episode with a huge revelation.
In shocking scenes, Natalie revealed that her brother, Oliver, is alive and responsible for her husband's murder, despite previously claiming that he had taken his own life four years earlier. But just how true are her claims?
Fans will have to wait until the next episode to find out more, and hopefully the second part will be more engaging for viewers. With three more parts to go, it will be interesting to see how the series progresses over time.
Deadline continues on Channel 5 at 9pm on Wednesday, April 6. Episodes are available on-demand via My5 once they've aired.
